Military Romance Author
by Kimberly A. Cook
Nothing like a Friday to cheer me up. Full tilt into Olympics viewing, so time to check in on those working around us; computer cats. My own trials with Spec Ops Cat and the computer don’t hold a candle to these dedicated felines.
Think we should rename them cattops instead of laptops!
Put your cat to work, cozy up to the tv and work up a sweat cheering for our athletes! Go Cats! Go Team USA!
Have a great safe, weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook
This week I’m determined to get the final edited copy of my military romance fiction book “Mission: Tinderbox” out to my beta readers. What are beta readers? Dedicated hardcore friends/readers/fellow writers who take a final look to make sure it all makes sense and perhaps find a typo or two.
On my non-fiction book, I had eleven beta readers. They each found something different. Pretty amazing. Also amazing was taking the eleven printed manuscripts in binders on an editing retreat in the wilds of Goldendale, Washington to cat sit for my friends Gate Girl and her hubby. Three days, three cats, sixty acres, visiting deer and one biblical thunderstorm later I had all the edits compiled. Worked out great.
But it appears all those distractions I handled back then are nothing compared to the challenges of one Spec Ops Cat at home. Somehow he manages to show up at the right time to make the maximum impact on what I’m trying to do.
Whether he is napping on my manuscripts to edit, stepping into the bead box during play time or suddenly appearing from the mist to stand over my keyboard putting fur in my mouth, he arrives. Then he proceeds to actually step on a key and mess up the manuscript with a long line of zazazazazazazazaza that he did yesterday. How can one small cat be such a diversion?
With these challenges I’ve taken to rewarding myself before I complete goals these days, since that improved my motivation cleaning out the family home last month. I’ve discovered a new addiction too; glitter. So the glitter drawer is now full in the office/craft room and I still need to get this manuscript polished.
Perhaps by confessing in public I can make myself grind it out. Bought the three-ring binders and mailing boxes yesterday, so now all that is left is the final read, edit work, making copies and mailing.
Piece of cake.
Must be a glitter sale somewhere? Right?
by Kimberly A. Cook
I know this is Super Bowl weekend and these teams are not in the game, but they’re still winning! Since this week we’re celebrating victories, thought it was a great time to check out the Oregon Zoo’s conservation accomplishments for 2017.
And I’ve never seen anything cuter than a pygmy rabbit. Seriously! But the western pond turtle is a looker too.
Stock up on chips and dips, don’t forget Kitten Bowl Five on the Hallmark Channel, and root for the condors, butterflies, turtles and pygmy rabbits!
Have a great, safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook
Last week I finished a huge project. Mega big. Finished cleaning out my Dad’s basement workshop. This may sound like a small deal, but it was a humongo challenge. Been working on it for ten years. Off and on. Pretty on the past eight months.
So spent part of last week celebrating my accomplishment. Did wild and crazy things like a jammie day, a massage, bought clearance beads and actually read a fiction book. There was also dark chocolate involved; I stocked up on six bags just to be sure I don’t run out this next month – Valentine’s Day!
I don’t think we celebrate our victories enough. We’re so used to rushing on to meet the next goal, project or to do list item, we don’t revel in the moment. Celebrate all your achievements. What may seem like tiny victories mount up to big accomplishments.
It also recharges your battery. Which is why I could spend three hours on Sunday cleaning and rearranging the garage so I can get Subie’s car doors open. Parts of Dad’s shop ended up in my garage. Living room. Office. Exercise room. To be sorted later.
Time to celebrate with more chocolate. Plus I’m making big party plans to really commemorate this event by getting Subie detailed inside and out, replenishing my stock of no-stink BenGay and visiting the chiropractor.
After any mission, one must check equipment and do maintenance. Words to the wise.
I recruited help when I needed it too. It takes a platoon to accomplish most goals. Life is logistics.
One of the biggest hurdles was making sure tools and hardware went to non-profit organizations; Habitat for Humanity Restore and Tools 4 Troops got a lot. I know they will be used and help out families and veterans. Dad would like that too.
Got mega or mini victories to celebrate?
Party on!
by Kimberly A. Cook
Busy week. With that in mind, I decided we all needed a sun and swim break. What better way to warm up in the winter than surfing in Hawaii. With a pig. Who has his own board and two GoPro cameras. Because why not?
If you need to schedule some playtime in your life, take pointers from Kama, the hanging ten porker. Hang loose.
Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook
Gave up making resolutions years ago. I work with goals and try to fool myself. For those of us who did make resolutions and they are broken, blame it on the cat.
Check out how Simon’s cat is helping with resolutions.
Happy Quirky Friday everybody! Have a great, safe, long weekend.
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